UK Couple Jailed For Bogus Holiday Sickness Claims

A Liverpool, England couple have been jailed for making bogus holiday sickness claims on two different holidays to Majorca in 2015 and 2016.

Deborah Briton, 53, and partner Paul Roberts, 43, both visibly shook and cried at Liverpool Crown Court as their verdicts were read out.

Briton was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting four counts of fraud in the private prosecution brought by operator Thomas Cook.

Roberts was sentenced to 15 months after admitting the same offences.

The court heard how they tried to claim thousands for gastric illnesses, which they claimed they had picked up at the Globales America hotel in Majorca.

According to the BBC, Briton and Roberts had holidayed there for two years in row with their two children.

Judge David Aubrey QC noted that there had been an “explosion” in gastric illness claims made by UK vacationers.

A Thomas Cook spokesman added:

“The sentences handed down today demonstrate how serious the issue of fraudulent illness claims has become. This is a particularly sobering case but reflects what is going on across the UK travel industry, so we had to take a stand to protect our holidays and our customers from the minority who cheat the system. We hope it sends a clear message to holidaymakers across the UK that the consequences for lying about their experience abroad could be very serious.”

UK travel industry Abta has recorded a 500% rise in holiday sickness claims in recent years, driven by dishonest claims companies that used touts to approach packaged tour clients in-resort and promise them substantial rewards for fake claims that they experienced food poisoning from resort food.

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